Resurgent Auburn earns spot in final

SCOTT CAIN
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

ATLANTA -- Having lost its star and tumbled out of the Top 25, Auburn was given up for dead.
But after insisting through a late-season losing skid that their team had more substance than just exiled Chris Porter, the Tigers proved it by reaching the SEC Tournament championship game. A gritty 77-72 overtime victory against South Carolina on Saturday sent Auburn into a noon Central matchup today against Arkansas at the Georgia Dome.
Auburn (23-8) has been playing without Porter, the preseason national player of the year by many publications, since he was ruled ineligible Feb. 27 for violating NCAA rules by taking $2,500 from an agent's representative. He missed the final three games of the regular season, all losses, and the Tigers appeared to be reeling.
"I hurt. We all hurt through this, but we're getting better," Auburn Coach Cliff Ellis said.
Without Porter, the Tigers reinvented themselves a bit, cutting back on their press and becoming a more perimeter-oriented offense. Guards Daymeon Fishback, Doc Robinson and Scott Pohlman combined for 41 points Saturday, with Pohlman hitting the clinching free throws in overtime.
Still, Auburn isn't exactly bankrupt inside. Center Mamadou N'Diaye contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds and blocked 4 shots.
The game featured 16 lead changes and was as close as the regular-season meeting that the Tigers won 65-61 Jan. 19 after trailing by a point in the final minute. In that game, Gamecocks freshman guard Chuck Eidson scored 24 points, but he looked timid in attempting just four shots and going scoreless Friday.
South Carolina (15-17) had several opportunities to finish an inspired performance but did not cash in. Its best chance came with a minute left in overtime and the Gamecocks trailing by one point, when N'diaye fouled out.
But instead of going inside to steady Tony Kitchings, who had a 3-inch advantage on N'Diaye's replacement, Mack McGadney, guard Jamel Bradley missed a three-point shot. From there, the Tigers handled the foul-and-free-throw series to win their second game without Porter. They beat Florida in the quarterfinals.
"I really feel good for Cliff Ellis, who's battled through a lot of adversity the last few weeks," Gamecocks Coach Eddie Fogler said. "We feel bad about losing but I'm glad he was able to bring closure [to the Porter issue]."
SOUTH CAROLINA (15-17)
Davis 4-8 0-1 10, Kitchings 4-6 2--2 10, Petravicious 5-8 1-1 11, Bradley 2-10 0-0 6, Eidson 0-4 0-0 0, Ross 3-5 0-0 9, Grant 7-11 1-2 16, Lucas 3-7 0-2 7, Kraft 1-1 0-0 3, Clemmons 0-0 0-0 0, Kinloch 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-61 4-8 72.
AUBURN (23-8)
McGadney 3-8 0-0 6, N'diaye 6-11 2-3 14, Heard 3-5 0-0 8, Fishback 3-7 4-6 12, Robinson 5-16 0-0 14, Daniles 3-8 2-3 8, Brewer 0-0 0-0 0, Pohlman 4-9 6-7 15, Sharp 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-64 14-19 77.
Halftime--Auburn 33, South Carolina 32. 3-Point goals--South Carolina 10-25 (Ross 3-5, Davis 2-3, Bradley 2-8, Kraft 1-1, Grant 1-2, Lucas 1-3, Eidson 0-3), Auburn 9-20 (Robinson 4-8, Heard 2-4, Fishback 2-4, Pohlman 1-2, McGadney 0-1, Daniles 0-1). Fouled out--N'diaye. Rebounds--South Carolina 34 (grant 12), Auburn 37 (N'diaye 10). Assists--South Carolina 13 (Lucas 5), Aunurn 12 (Robinson 5). Total fouls--South Carolina 18, Auburn 11. Attendance--N/A.

This article was published on Sunday, March 12, 2000

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